Live Jazz in Budapest

Tue, Jun 30, 8:30 PM

ALERANT Jazz Night: Budapest Bossanova

Budapest Jazz Club / Ujlipotvaros / Map

Authentic bossa nova vibes from Brasil, intimate, light tunes with traditional bossa rhythm. Gábor Hurták – guitar, vocal, Gábor Szalay – guitar , Balázs Földváry – bass, Csaba Kőfalvi – drums

Caspar Thorpe and Bence Babcsán wrote their first original composition, titled naphajlat, in the spring of 2024. As a result of this collaboration, they continued to work together as a duo: the backbone of their ever-expanding repertoire consists of original compositions and arrangements that draw on the soundscapes of Hungarian and Balkan folk music. Their musical world emphasises natural sound and a refined style of expression, paired with polished, focused instrumental playing. Capturing the essence of folk music, they sometimes create intimate atmospheres, while at other times they invite the audience to dance with rhythmic, light-hearted music. For this concert, they are joined by guests Tamás Smuk and Nikolas Mantzourakis, with whom they perform their favorite Bulgarian, Romanian, Armenian, Macedonian, Greek, and original melodies, spiced with plenty of improvisation. In addition to the instrumental melodies, Bori Magyar’s enchanting voice makes the program even more memorable.

More than half a century after his passing, Jimi Hendrix remains one of the most influential figures in the history of popular music. VBW Experience pays tribute to the legendary guitarist by reimagining his iconic compositions through the lenses of jazz, blues, and rock, blending respect for the originals with a fresh, contemporary approach and a strong spirit of improvisation. Founded by guitarist Dániel Várnai, the band features drummer István Baló, one of the most influential figures in Hungarian jazz, and bassist Csaba Winterverber, known for his work with numerous acclaimed Hungarian pop and rock artists. Special guest of the evening is Mike Gotthard, one of Hungary’s most outstanding guitarists. On this special concert, Hendrix’s timeless music is brought to life from a new perspective, enriched by creative interplay, spontaneous improvisation, and the distinctive musical voice of the ensemble. Dániel Várnai – guitar, vocal, Csaba Winterverber – bass guitar, István Baló – drum Guest: Mike Gotthard – guitar

Fri, Jul 3, 8:00 PM

SamSaRa | Lantos – Juhász – Nyusztay (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

SamSaRa, the influential Hungarian world music ensemble of the turn of the millennium, takes the stage at Opus in a reimagined form. The group was founded in 2000 by two renowned and open-minded jazz musicians, Zoltán Lantos and Gábor Juhász, along with two outstanding Hungarian experts and players of Indian percussion instruments, Péter Szalai and Iván Nyusztay. Both Lantos and Nyusztay spent several years in India to master the techniques of playing classical Indian instruments and the authentic harmonic and rhythmic world of the local music. Drawing on his experiences, Lantos even had a special, resonant stringed violin custom-made for himself, which allows him to produce a rich sound that combines the advantages of two Indian instruments – the plucked sitar and the bowed sarangi – with those of the traditional violin. The trio plays Indo-jazz, that is, it brings elements and colors from Indian classical music into the world of jazz. This music has a spacious atmosphere, an airy quality, and an ancient fragrance, the influence of which is impossible to resist.

Attila Kiss has learned the ways of jazz in New York City. On this night, the audience can hear his compositions. . Attila Kiss – guitar, Árpád Tzumo – piano, Sándor Zsemlye – alto-saxophone, Gábor Vermes – bass-guitar, Szilárd Banai – drums

The Gypsy Jazz Band, led by guitarist Róbert Kárpáti and under the musical mentorship of world-famous violin virtuoso Roby Lakatos, exploded into the public consciousness in 2018 as one of the highlights of Hungarian musical culture. The band has grown into one of the most authentically sounding formations of the jazz-manouche genre. The band is a regular guest at domestic festivals. Róbert Kárpáti – guitar, Myriam Lakatos – vocal, Roby Lakatos – violin, László Kökény – guitar, Laszlo Bóni – violin, Tibor Pintér – guitar, Kálmán Cséki – piano, Noémi Flór – bass

Sat, Jul 11, 8:00 PM

Fusio Group feat. Erika Kertész: New Visions – album premiere (HU)

Opus Jazz Club / Ferencvaros / Map

At the end of 2025, the Fusio Group released its ninth album, New Visions, featuring Erika Kertész. The band, which has been active for over 30 years, was formed from the country’s leading artists. Their program consists of compositions by bandleader, drummer-composer Péter Szendőfi, whose musical world is closest to the fusion jazz genre and spans an extremely wide spectrum of moods and dynamics, ranging from lyrical, ballad-like, sensitive songs to energetic, virtuosic themes and grand instrumental solos. Since 2024, the band’s regular guest has been Erika Kertész, whose presence has given their work a new direction. The singer’s voice and performance style harmonize superbly with the instrumental pieces, while her collaboration also brings English-language lyrics to several previously instrumental tracks. As a result, the music on the new album is an intriguing and unique blend that promises an exceptionally diverse and varied soundscape.

Sat, Jul 11, 8:30 PM

The radiocafé presents: Elsa Valle Bakary

Budapest Jazz Club / Ujlipotvaros / Map

The Cuban singer Elsa Valle, who lives in Hungary and is known for her vibrant energy, always performs with a fitting accompaniment. Elsa Valle – vocal, Gábor Szalay – guitar, Viktor Hárs – bass, Zsolt Mádai – drums